Jefferson City is dreaming big.
So the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce would have residents believe, as its annual gala Friday night - with a theme of "Dreams" - recounted community accomplishments made in 2016 as well as big goals for the coming year.
Falling into both of those categories is the Chamber's year-long work in progress - establishing a cybersecurity institute for Missouri in the Capital City.
"My largest goal was to build something for Jefferson City because this is my home," said Dan Westhues, the Chamber's 2016 chairman of the board.
That something was introduced at last year's gala only as "Project Alpha," later deemed "Project Security."
"There are nearly 270,000 unfilled security-related IT jobs in the United States. Colleges and universities in Missouri offer limited cybersecurity specialty degrees," Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Randy Allen said in the Chamber's most recent newsletter, noting Westhues heads an ad hoc committee on the initiative. "The ad hoc group has researched other statewide and regional organizations with similar missions and has developed a framework for a not-for-profit structure that would bring Missouri business, government and academic interests together to accomplish these results."
Westhues, who has also served on Missouri's Cybersecurity Task Force, said creating such an institute in Jefferson City ultimately would create a foundation for more technology jobs in the Jefferson City area.
Allen said the Chamber anticipates that task force will recommend creation of a statewide institute, and the Chamber is prepared to propose its plan in 2017 based on that recommendation.
Also at Friday's gala, the Chamber transferred the chairman of the board role from Westhues to Janet Weckenborg, vice president for operations at Capital Region Medical Center, who noted the Chamber will continue its efforts to develop the area workforce in the coming year.
As per tradition, the gala also highlighted the contributions of several community members to betterment of Jefferson City.
The Chamber honored Don Claycomb, who retired as State Technical College of Missouri's president after 23 years in 2016, with the William W. Quigg Award, given annually to an individual who has demonstrated lifelong leadership, vision and dedication to the Jefferson City community.
Introducing Claycomb, Westhues said colleagues used a variety of words to describe him - integrity, honesty, sincerity, high ideals, person of action, determined, focused, easy to work with, visionary and genuine.
Claycomb has received the Missouri Pioneers in Education award from the Missouri State Board of Education and Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, recognizing him for more than 50 years of contributions to public education.
When he retired last year, Claycomb was the longest-serving public college president in Missouri. State Tech presented him with its first ever honorary degree and renamed its information technology center after him at his retirement.
"The Jefferson City area has been home for Linda and I for more years than we have lived anywhere else. Three of our five kids are either in Jefferson City or they work or live in a suburb of Jefferson City - which would include Columbia, Chamois and Linn," Claycomb said, to appreciative applause. "This is our home. I enjoy my time as a part of the Chamber. I've always been a strong believer of the Chamber, and to be among the list of those people who have received the William W. Quigg Award in the past is truly, truly an honor."
Past winners of the award include Bill Lockwood, Betty Weldon, B.J. DeLong, Elizabeth Rozier, Sam Cook, Harold Westhues, Carl Vogel, Linda McAnany and Phil Freeman.
From those ending successful careers to those beginning them, the Chamber also presented the Fast Forward Award to local entrepreneur Quinten Rice - who happened to be on stage already as bassist for entertaining band The Cherry Pistols. The annual award recognizes a young professional who exhibits outstanding leadership skills and is making valuable contributions for a positive impact on the community's future.
Rice owns and operates The SPACE, a musicians' rehearsal space, as well as Q Entertainment, which provides hospitality and entertainment production services.
His latest venture - Avenue HQ, a partnership with Holly Stitt - is a growing entertainment complex already home to a 5,000-square-foot event space, Scene One Theatre and soon-to-open live music venue The Bridge. Since opening in 2015, Avenue HQ has hosted private events as well as entertainment such as concerts and stand-up comedians.
Mark Kaiser received the Chamber Meritorious Civic Service Award, designed to honor individuals for making positive contributions of service to Jefferson City.
Kaiser has offered his financial expertise to the United Way of Central Missouri for several years, from chairing the organization's Strategic Planning Committee to serving as its campaign co-chair.
According to Weckenborg, Kaiser recently said, "I have been part of this organization for so long, I can't imagine not being an active volunteer for as long as they'll have me."
Kaiser also has served on the boards of the Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson City Public Schools Foundation and Salute to America Foundation, as well as the Jefferson City Area YMCA Board of Trustees and Parks Resources Committee of the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission.
And for outstanding volunteer service to the Chamber itself, Alan Mudd accepted the Chairman's Award.
Mudd, of Associated Real Estate Group, has served the Chamber in several roles, including its board of directors. During his term, he led the effort to create a river walk in North Jefferson City, which led to a major donor's contribution to further riverfront development. He has also worked toward historic preservation and inner-city improvements in Jefferson City, Westhues said.
"I don't think that I have ever had the opportunity to serve with more wonderful public-spirited individuals than in these three years on the Chamber board," Mudd said. "I'm proud of our city; I'm proud of our Chamber."